Are You Willing to Trade?

Are you willing to trade space for energy efficiency in a new home?

Nashville-area developer Randy Chastain is betting some of you will.

Chastain, who was interviewed in Monday's business section of The Tennessean, said he's been involved in the homebuilding industry for 30 years but only recently began thinking about energy efficiency.

Cambridge Park, on 19 acres in Antioch, is Chastain's newest...and smallest...building project. It's also his most efficient.

His registration with the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program makes him one of the first homebuilders in Tennessee to jump on the "green homebuilding" bandwagon.

Chastain says that sound environmental practices will add about 8k-9k in cost to each Cambridge Park home, which will be in the 250k-270k price range. They also will be 1,300 SF to 2,100 SF, which is about 10 percent smaller than comparably priced homes nearby.

This pioneering builder believes that buyers will forego extra space for energy efficiency.

However, a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders revealed that the majority of buyers would sacrifice space for high quality amenities but not for energy efficiency.

What about you?

What would be most important to you if you were buying a new home: space, amenities, or energy efficiency?

Surely there can be a way to combine all three.